Method and apparatus for double seaming



April 12, 1966 K. Bor-'INER ETAL I 3,245,372

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOUBLE SEAMING Filed Dec. 3, 1965 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 April 12, 1966 K. BoFlNGl-:R ETAL 3,245,372

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOUBLE SEAMING Filed Dec. I5, 1963 7Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS @4H 3a/w65? Agp@ feg/60,9%( f4/MAW JMW@ M A 7T/QA/[V United States Patent O 3,245,372 METHOD AND APPARATUS FR DOUBLESEAMING Karl Bofinger and Karl Friedrick Lehmann, Barrington,

lli., assignors to American Can Company, New York,

NSY., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,60318 Claims. (Cl. 113-26) This invention relates to can closing equipmentand more particularly it relates to a method and apparatus for forming adouble seam joint between can ends and can bodies.

In the field of can closing by seaming a can end to a can body, the termdouble seaming is used to denote a two-step closing operation in which afirst step forms a partial seam by bending the end skirt and the bodyfiange into engagement, and a second step forms the finished seam byflattening the partial seam into a tightly formed end seam.

Generally, it is the practice in the canning industry to fill the cansat a filling machine and to introduce the filled cans into the doubleseaming apparatus. To prevent spillage of the fiuid contents of thefilled cans, it is preferable Vto feed the filled cans linearly, i.e.,in a straight line, into the seaming apparatus and to then register anend with each can prior to the seaming operations. In the double seamer,a plurality of rotatable support pads are equally radially spaced from avertical shaft which defines the central axis of the machine. As eachfilled can and its associatedend enters the double seamer, they areplaced upon a spring loaded driving support pad and clamped down by adriving chuck. As the double seamer operates, all of the clamped cansand ends are revolved yabout the central axis of the machine, andsimultaneously each can and end is rotated or spun about its own axis bythe driving chuck. As used herein, the term revolution connotes rotarymovement of a can about the central vertical axis of the double seamerand the term rotation connotes rotary movement of a can about its ownvertical axis.

During revolution, two seaming -devices come into contact whith each canto effect the first and second seaming operations. Each seaming deviceengages the can end skirt and the can body Vfiange and the rotation ofthe can and end while in engagement with Ithe seaming device causes theseam to be effected. When both the first and the second seamingoperations are completed, the can end has been joined to the can body bya double seam, and the closed can is subsequently discharged from thedouble seamer. The seaming device can be of ltwo general types; eitherthe stationary type known as a seaming rail and typified by U.S. PatentNo. 1,104,751, issued to F. Wegner, or the rotary type known as aseaming roller and typified by U.S. Patent No. 1,398,018, issued to H.G. Hill.

In the past, most double seamers have employed seaming rollers toperform each of the two seaming operations. In order to move suchseaming rollers into engagement with the cans to be seamed, it has beennecessary to utilize complicated camming arrangements, as illustrated inU.S. Patent No. 1,183,654 issued to L. C. Krummel, or pivotally mountedrollers with operating fingers, as illustrated in U. S. Patent No.1,474,176 issued to H. T. Small. While such seaming rollers formexcellent double seams, the apparatus needed to operate the seamingrollers often unduly complicates the double seamer machine and impedesthe high speed operation of the machine. Accordingly, in recent years,designers of double seamers have turned to the useof seaming rails toreplace the complicated seaming rollers. Recent patents such as U.S.-Patent No. 2,727,481, issued to E.

Patented Apr. 12, 1966 ice LaXo and U.S. Patent No. 2,975,740, issued toC. J. Smith et al., illustrate and describe the use of two seamingrails, one for performing each seaming operation.

While there can be no question that the use of seamlng rails in lieu ofseaming rollers provides a far simpler construction of the double seamermachine, it has been found that the double seems produced by a twin raildouble seamer are not folded tightly enough and are far more susceptibleto failure. In the first place, it is necessary for each can to rotate,about its own axis at least once plus some small amount of overlapduring engagement with each of the seaming devices, and since moderndouble seamers perform both seaming operations within one revolution ofthe double seamer machine or 360, the angle subtended by each seamingrail must necessarily be somewhat less than one half a revolution or180. Since all seaming must take place along a rail extending over anarc of less than 180, the number of times a can may rotate about its ownaxis is necessarily limited, but yet must be at least one completerotation plus an overlap. The previously mentioned Smith et al. Patent2,975,740, for example, discloses that 1/2 can rotations take placewhile in engagement with each seaming rail. In actual practice, it hasbeen found that the double seam produced by such a minimal number ofrotations is not folded tightly enough and is susceptible to leakage.Furthermore, and far more serious a problem, rail type seamers cause themetal at the end seam to be cold wo-rked. Since the seaming rail isstationary and the can rotates with respect to it, the metal at the seamarea of the can is caused to flow ahead of the seaming operation.Actually this fiow takes the form of metal at the end seam being foldedoverV upon itself in a microscopic fashion and although such folding ishardly visible to the naked eye, it still structurally weakens the metalof the end seam. Moreover, when such folding occurs during engagementwith the first seaming rail, subsequent engagement with the secondseaming rail tends to aggravate and yaccentuate the problem byincreasing the folding.

Itis therefore an object of the present invention to overcome theproblems and difficulties encountered -in prior art double seamers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method ofdouble seaming a can end onto a can body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a double seaming methodwhich `forms effective, tightly sealed end seams without folding over orotherwise adversely working the metal at the end seams.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved double seamerfor seaming can ends `onto can bodies.

Another object of this invention -is to provide a high capacity, fullyautomatic` apparatus of simplified construction which willsatisfactorily seam can ends onto can bodies without folding over orotherwise adversely working the metal at the end seams.

Another object of this invention is to provide a double seaming methodand apparatus wherein a set of seaming rollers and their associatedoperating mechanisms can be eliminated during one seaming operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a double seaming methodand apparatus wherein the foregoing objects can be carried out during asingle revolution of the machine.

Another object of this invention -is to provide a double seamer whichutilizes an improved forni-of seaming roller.'

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description which, takenin connection with the ac' companying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

The foregoing objects are lattained by providing a double seamer whereinthe first seaming operation `is performed by a seaming rail and thesecond seaming Ioperation is performed by a seaming roller. Can bodiesare automatically introduced into the double seamer and deposited uponsupport pads radially stationed around ,the central axis of the machine.Can ends 4are also automatically introduced into the machine whenassociated can bodies are present, and these ends are registered withthe can bodies and held thereon by driving chucks located above thesupport pads. As the double seamer operates, it revolves the cans aboutits central axis and simultaneously, each driving chuck and support padrotates a can and its associated end about its own axis. As therevolution and rotation are occurring, each can contacts a seaming raildesigned to occupy less than one quadrant (i.e., less than 90 degrees ofthe 360 degrees 'which are traversed in one complete revolution of thedouble seamer). The contact between the seaming rail and the rotatingcan causes a partial seam to be eected. As each partially seamed ycan isrevolved beyond the seaming rail, a cam-operated seaming roller pivotsinto engage- .ment with it, .and the contact between the seaming rollerand the rotating can causes a finished seam to be effected.Subsequently, the double seamed can is ejected from .the machine. Theentire foregoing operation, from introduction of an open ended can bodyto ejection of that can body with an end `double seamed thereto, takesplace in `less than 360 degrees or one complete revolution of the doubleseamer.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of .a double seamer rin accord- -ance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is `a front elevational View of the double seamer illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a can before thedouble seaming operation occurs;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating a can undergoing thefirst seaming operation;

Y FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a can undergoingthe second seaming operation;

' FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the can end feeding mechanism takenalong line 9-9 of FIG. 1 and showing the mechanism in a feed position;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the can end feeding mechanism, similar toFIG. 9, but showing the mechanism in a no-feed position;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the can end feeding mechanism taken along line11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along `line 12-12 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a seaming roller in Vaccordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the seaming rollerof FIG. 13 mounted within its associ- ,ated bearings; and

FIG. 15 is an end view of a no can-no cover detector device taken alongline 15-15 of FIG. 2.

As a preferred or exemplary form of the present invention, FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a double seamer apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention and generally designated 30. The apparatus has a main frameand base assembly 32, a cover or upper assembly generally designated 34,a can feeding assembly generally designated 36, a cover feeding`assembly generally designated 38, and a can ejecting assembly generallydesignated 40. The apparatusis operated by a main driving motor (notshown) which operates main drive gears 42, 44 which in turn operate thedouble seamer shaft and sleeve gearing 46, 48 as seen generally in FIG.l and in greater detail in FIG. 3.

An auxiliary gear drive unit 50, as illustrated generally in FIGS. 1Vand 2, is used to drive a feed chain to introduce cans into the doubleseamer, as will be presently described. The gear drive 50 is driven by agear 52 which in turn is driven by the transfer turret gear 54. Thetransfer turret gear 54 itself is operated by the gear 58 which alsooperates the ejection turret gear 60. The gear 54 also operates a coverfeed turret gear 56.

In order to understand the present invention more fully, its generaloperation will now be described and its component parts will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter. As can be seen from FIGS. l, 2and 4, a plurality of cans 62 are fed into the machine 30 by the canfeeding assembly 36 which includes a chain feed 64 with projectingfingers 66 extending between each infeeding can 62 and toward an opposedguide rail 67. The chain feed 64 is operated by the gear drive 50, aspreviously described. As the fingers feed the cans 62 linearly into themachine, the cover feeding assembly 38 feeds can ends or closures 68 t-omate with the cans. As shown in FIG. 4, the ends 68 are fed betweenguide rails 70 by a cover feed turret 72 with feeding pins 74 spacedabout its periphery. An end 68 is engaged between each pair of feed pins74 and is fed into a pocket 76 of a transfer turret 78 which continuescarrying the end between the Vguide rails 70 and nally locates it overan infeeding can 62. The cover feed turret 72 and the transfer turret 78are operated respectively by gears 56 and 54.

As an infeeding can 62 and an infeeding end 68 come into superposedalignment, the can feeds into a pocket 80 on the periphery of a centralturret 82 and simultaneously a chuck unit, to be described presently, isoperated to drive the end into the can and to spin or rotate the canabout its own axis while it synchronously revolves about the main shaft86 0f the machine 30. As the central turret 82 revolves, the can is fedpast a seaming rail 88 which engages the rotating and revolving can andend and performs the first seaming operation. A cam rail 90 is providedoutside the seaming rail 88 in the direction of revolution, and both theseaming rail and cam rail are affixed to the upper assembly 34. Movableseaming rollers, as will be later described, are operated by the camrail 90 to engage the revolving can and end to effect the second seamingoperation and to thus produce a tightly double seamed can. Subsequently,the double seamed cans are fed into the can ejecting assembly 40 whichincludes an ejecting turret 92 with peripheral pockets 94. The ejectingassembly also includes an arcuate rail portion 96 with a terminal fingerportion 98. The ejecting turret 92 is driven by the gear 60 inopposition to the direction of the central turret 82 with the resultthat, as the double seamed cans reach the finger portion 9S, they Varetransferred out of the pockets 80 of the central turret 82 and into thepockets 94 of the ejecting turret 92 which in turn moves the cans aroundthe arcuate rail portion 96 and ejects them between guide rails 100.

The seaming roller assembly which performs the second kseaming operationis generally designated 102 and is illustrated in FIG. 13 wherein it canbe seen that the assembly is comprised of a body portion and a shaftportion. The body portion includes three interconnected stepped portions104, 106 and 108 with slots 110 and 112 being formed respectively withinthe stepped portions 104 and 108. A roller 114, hereinafter denoted thelower roller, is rotatably mounted within the slot 110 at one end of thestepped portion 104. At the other end of the stepped portion 104, aseaming roller 116 can be rotatably mounted. The seaming roller is notillustrated in the assembly of FIG. 13, since it is not a fixed partthereof, but rather, it can be interchanged as desired since the size'of the seaming roller employed may be varied to accommodate cans ofvarying diameter. A roller 118, hereinafter denoted the intermediateroller, is rotatably mounted centrally within the `slot 112. The steppedportion 106 is provided with a central aperture through which the shaftportion of assembly 102 extends. As can be seen in FIG. 13 and also inFIG. 14, the shaft portion includes a shaft 120, locked to the bodyportion by a locking bolt 122, and a sleeve 124 surrounding the shaft,said sleeve commencing slightly above the stepped portion 106 andterminating upward into a wing 126, which is shown turned 90counterclockwise from its actual position, for ease of illustration. Aroller 128, hereinafter denoted the upper roller, is rotatably mountedon the intermediate roller side of the wing 126. The axis of the upperroller 128 is normal to the axes lof the intermediate and lower rollers,118 and 114, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 3 for a more detailed description of the apparatusof the present invention, it will be seen the main drive 'shaft 86 ofthe machine is provided at its lower end with a driving gear 46 and isjournaled at its upper end within a bearing chamber 130 formed in theupper assembly 34. A gear 132 is keyed to the shaft 86 near its medialportion and an identical gear 138 is keyed to the shaft near its upperportion; the purpose of these gears to be described shortly. Surroundingthe shaft 86 at its lower end is a sleeve 134 to which the sleeve drivegear 48 is keyed. It will be noted that the shaft and sleeve drive gears46 and 48 are operated respectively by the main drive gears 42 and 44which are axed to a shaft 136 which is operatively connected to the maindriving motor (not shown). It will also be noted that the shaft drivegear 46 is slightly smaller than the sleeve drive gear 48 so that, inoperation, the shaft will rotate faster than the sleeve, thus ensuringthat the driving chucks and support pads which are operated by the shaftwill rotate more times than the central turret 82 which is operated bythe sleeve, thereby eifectuating a more firm and more eiective doubleseam. A shaft to sleeve ratio of 1.25 :1 is preferable. However, thesize of the gears 46 and 48 can be varied to provide diiferent ratiosand to accommodate different can sizes.

A drive gear 58 is keyed to the sleeve 134 adjacent the gear 48 and issurrounded by a bearing 140 extending from the machine frame 32. Thedrive gear 58 will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter inconnection with the cover feeding assembly 38.

After the shaft 86 and sleeve 134 pass through an opening in the frame32, the central turret 82 is keyed to the sleeve 134 for rotationtherewith. The central turret 82 is manufactured as a two-part item,with a cavity 142 being formed between the upper part 82a` and the lowerpart 82]); the gear 132 being located within the cavity. When theinfeeding cans 62 are received in the pockets 80 of the central turret82, they are deposited upon support pads 144, one of which is locatedbeneath each pocket 80. Each support pad 144 has a depending stern 146which extends downward and partially into the cavity 142. A pad drivingpinion 148 is attached to the lower end of each stem 146 and each ofthese pinions 148 mates with the gear 132. Each support pad 144 isspring biased upward by means of spring 150 acting against the pinion148 or the stem 146, or both. A bias adjustment means 152 can be used tovary the amount of spring bias exerted on the support pads. Inoperation, rotation of the sleeve 134 causes the support pads 144 andtheir associated mechanism to revolve about the central axis of themachine, as defined by the vertical axis of the shaft 86.Simultaneously, rotation of the shaft 86 causes the gear 132 to drivethe pinions 148 to spin or rotate each support pad 144 about its ownaxis, as defined by the vertical axis of the stem 146. The matingrelation between the gear 132 and the pinions 148 can be seen in greaterdetail in FIG. 4.

Located above each pocket 80 of the central turret 82, as can be seenfrom FIG. 3, is a driving chuck 154 to which an upwardly extending stem1156 is afxed. The stem 156 passes through a chuck bearing 158 and atthe upper end of the stem, a chuck driving pinion 160 is attached. Eachof the chuck driving pinions 160 mates with the gear 138. Each of thechuck Ibearings 158 is lkeyed at 162 to the central turret 82, as can beseen in FIG 3 and also in FIG. 5. It will be obvious that rotation ofthe gear 58 causes the pinions 160 to rotate or spin around their ownaxes and to thus rotate or drive the chucks 154.

However, it will be noted from FIG. 4 that the chucks 154 arereciprocable and are not in their lowered or can engaging positionthroughout the entire machine 30. Rather, the chucks v1154 lower at thepoint Where a can 62 enters a pocket 80 of the central turret 82. Atthis same point, the transfer turret 78 has located an end 68 over thecan 612. Lowering of the chuck 1'54 drives the end 68 into the can 62 asmay be seen in FIG. 6. When the can and end reach the ejecting assembly40, the chuck 154 is raised. This selective reciprocation or raising andlowering of the chucks 154 is accomplished by a cam rail arrangement asshown in FIG. 3. This arrangement includes an upper cam rail 164 formedon a depending portion 166 from the top 168 of the upper assembly 34. Anupper extension 170 of each of the Ibearings 158 is provided 'with apair of cam follower rollers 172 and 174 which respectively engage theupper and lower surfaces of the upper cam rail 164. When the upper camrail 164 raises the upper extension 170 to the position shown in dashedlines on the left of FIG. 3, the chuck 154 israised out of engagementwith the can and end in the turret pocket 80. FIG. 12 furtherillustrates the engagement of the cam follower rollers 172 `and 174 andthe upper cam rail 164.

The seaming roller assemblies I102 are mounted with? in the machine 30by means of bearings aixed tothe central turret 82. One such 'bearing176 surrounds each seaming roller sleeve 124 .and another such bearing1-78 surrounds the seaming roller shaft 120, as can be seen in FIG. 3and in FIG. 14. It will be apparent from an examination of FIGS. 3 and 4that the seaming roller assemblies 102 must be reciprocatbly mounted sothat they may be raised for passage over the seaming railV 88 as thecentral turret 82 rotates. To permit such reciprocation, lthe seamingroller sleeve 12-4 and shaft 120 must be reciprocable respectivelywithin the bearings 176 and 178. To accomplish such reciprocation, acammed groove 180 is provided beneath an annular shoulder 182 of theupper assembly 34. The upper roller :128 of the seaming roller assemblyrides within the cammed groove 18) and the seaming roller wing 126 ridesaiong the inner'face 184 of the cammed groove, as can be seen in IFIG'S.3 and l2. The low position ofthe cammed groove -180 is shown at the leftof FIG. 3 whereat it can be seen that the seaming roller 1.16 isengaging the double seam 186 of a can. The high position of the cammedgroove is shown at the right of' FIG. 3 whereat it can be seen that theseaming roller 1116 is elevated above the seaming rail 88 which isengaging the can double seam 186.

Torcomplete the description of the components housed Within'the upperassembly 34, it can .be seen from FIG. 3 that the upper assembly has adepending skirt 188 which has mounted on' its lower end the seaming rail88 and the cani rail 90. A portion of the cam rail 90 is spring biasedat 190, as can Ibe seen on the left of FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4, and thepurpose of this spring bias will Ibe described presently. Also, anintermediate cam rail 192 is provided depending from the cammed groove180 and mating with `the intermediate roller -1-18 for operation of theseaming roller 116 in a manner as will be presently described.

With the foregoing components and -their explanation in mind, it willnow be possible to explain the operation of the double seamer from thetime a can entersA the i pocket 80 of the central turret 82 until it isejected into a pocket 94 of the ejecting turret 92 with a double seam1186 being formed thereon. As the can 62 enters the pocket 88 and an end68 becomes aligned over it, the chuck 154 descends by virtue of theupper cam rail 164, to drive the end into the can, as shown in FIG. 6,and to lock the can and end between the chuck 154 and the support pad144, as shown in FIG. 3. The main motor shaft 136 operates gearing 42,44, 46, 48 to rotate the main machine shaft 86 and its surroundingsleeve 134. Since the central turret 82 is attached to the sleeve 134,it also rotates and thus causes the can and end to tbe revolved aboutthe central axis of the machine. Simultaneously, the gears 138 and 132,which are attached to the shaft 86, are rotating and respectivelycausing the pinions 160 and '148 to rotate, thus causing the can and endassembly to spin or rotate about its own axis. As was previouslydescribed, the shaft gear 46 is slightly smaller than the sleeve gear 48thus causing the shaft 86 to rotate faster than the sleeve 134 andthereby creating a condition wherein the can and end assembly rotatesfaster than it revolves.

As the can and end is synchronously rotating and revolving, it is fedpast the arcuate seaming rail 88 as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 7. As thecan 62 and end 68 -move past the seaming rail, a partial double seam 186is produced lby the pressure and relative movement bee tween the seamand the rail 88. As was described in the introduction, the length of theseaming rail 8S is kept to a minimum to avoid dow of the metal in theseam area and it is preferred that the length of the seaming rail besuch that it occupies less than one quadrant (i.e., less than 90 degreesof the 360 degrees which are traversed in one complete revolutionof thedouble seamer 30). But while the rail length must be less than 9Udegrees, its actual length is determined by the circumference of thecans 62.

When the can and end move beyond the seaming rail 88, a seaming rollerassembly 102 is pivoted into position to effect the second seamingoperation, as shown in LFIGS. 3, and 8. The seaming roller assembly-10-2 has been raised over the seaming rail 88 by means of the cammedgroove 180, as previously described, and as the assembly passes ybeyondthe seeming rail, the cammed groove 180 lowers the assembly and a raisedportion 194 Y .on the cam rail 90 engages the lower roller 114 to pivotthe seaming roller assembly 102 inward so the searning roller 1,16engages the partially formed double seam 186. The pressure and therelative movement between the seaming roller 116 and the rotating andrevolving can produces a tightly folded finished double seam 186,V ascan be seen in FIG. 8. The rail 90 is spring biased at 190 to assure atight engagement between the roller and the seam. The intermediate camrail 192 extends only partially around the machine 30, as can be seen inFIG. 5, and when the intermediate roller 118 comes into engagement withthe intermediate cam rail 192, the seaming roller assembly 102 ispivoted outward and out of engagement with the double seam. When theseaming roller has been pivoted out of engagement and has been raised,the dou-ble seamed can is transferred from the central turret 82 to theejecting turret 92 and subsequently out of the machine.

Referring now to the details of the cover or end feeding assembly 38,FIG. 9 shows the cover feed turret drive gear 56 being operated by thegear 54, which in turn is driven by the cover feed drive gear 5.8 whichis keyed to the machine sleeve 134 and thus driven by the sleeve gear48. An internal gear 196 is affixed to the upper side of the gear 56 andis simultaneously rotatable therewith. A pinion 198 is driven by theinternal gear 196 toV rotate a shaft 26u having another pinion 282 atits upper end. The pinion 202 drives an internal gear 2.16 on theunderside of the cover feed turret 72 and also drives another pinion 208which rotates a cover feeding separator device 210 by means of a shaft212. The separator device has a knife blade 214 which separates thelowermost end 63 from a stack of ends resting in a slanted stack guide216. Beneath the knife 'blade 214, a spiral slot 218 is provided forgradually feeding the separated lowermost end 68 downward onto the guiderails 70 wherein it is engaged by a pin 74 on the feeding turret 72 tothus start feeding into the machine 39. The spiral slot 218 and itsfunction is described in greater detail in U.S. Patent No. 2,750,913,issued to W. Pechy.

In order to assure proper functioning of the apparatus, it is necessaryto interconnect the can feeding assembly 36 and the cover feedingassembly 38 so that if no can is present for one particular pocket, nocover will be fed to that pocket. This arrangement is illustrated inFIGS. 2, 9, l0, ll and 15, and is known as a no can-no cover detectordevice. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 15, a rail 220 is normally forcedoutward beneath the guide rail 67 by cans 62. This rail, however, isnormally biased inward by means of tension springs 222 acting on a crank224 at the end of the rail 220. A link 226 is connected to the rail 220and a rod 228 is connected to the link 226. The rod 228 is connectedthrough a bell crank 230 to a control rod 232 which controls the feed ofthe covers 68, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. A cam follower 234 isattached t0 the end of the control rod 232 and is adapted either to twithin an annular groove 236 in the separator device 216 or to ride upona cammed rail portion 238 at the outside edge of the groove 236. Due tothe tension of the spring 222, the rail 220 is normally biased inwardinto the path of the infeeding cans 62. When a can 62 is present, itresists the bias of the rail 220, as shown in FIG. 15, and the link 226,rod 228, and crank 23) coact to move the control rod 232 to the positionshown in FIG. 9 wherein the cam follower 234 on the end of the controlrod rides upon the cammed rail portion 238. For simplicity ofidentification, this may be referred to as the can present position.When no can 62 is present, the rail 220 is free to move inward andconsequently the link 226, rod 228, and crank 230 coact to move thecontrol rod 232 to the position shown in FIG. 10 wherein the camfollower 234A on the end of the control rod rides within the annulargroove 236. For simplicity lof identification, this may be referred toas the can absent position.y

A slide 240 surrounds the control rod 232 and is provided at its upperend with a pin 242 having a beveled area 243. When the control rod 232is in the can present position of FIG. 9, the cam follower 234 ridesupon the `cammed railed portion 238 and thus causes-the slide 240 tomove upward at the high spot of the cammed rail. When the control 232 isin the can absent position of FIG. l0, the cam follower 234 rides withinthe groove 236 and the slide 249 is not raised. To permit the slide 249to be raised by the cammed rail 238,`the control rod 232 is speciallyconnected to the bell crank 230 in such a manner that the rod 232 isfree to rise and lower, yet is also free to be moved in and out by thecrank. This special connection can best be seen in FIG. 1l and it takesthe form of a spool 244with a ycentral groove 24S mounted on the outerend of the control rod and a pair of pins 246 offset from a rod 243aiixed to the bell crank 230. Thus, when the bell crank 230 rotates therod 248, the pins 246 being located within the groove 245 tend to pushupon the spool 244, thereby sliding the control rod 232 through, theslide 248. VJhen the cammed rail portion 238 acts upon the follower 234to raise the slide 240 and control rod 232, the spool 244 can risewithout moving either the pins 246 or the rod 248 and bell crank 234Bconnected to the pins.

As can be seen from FIG. l1, a pair of scissor jaws 250 and 252 aremounted above the cover feeding separator device 219. The scissor jaw250 has a rearwardly extending finger 254 and a forwardly extendinglinger 256;

similarly, the scissor jaw 252 has a rearwardly extending finger 258 anda forwardly extending finger 260. A pair of opposed spring-biased jaws262 act on the rearwardly extending fingers to force them toward oneanother,fbut the slide pin 242 extends between the fingers to preventthem from closing completely. 'Ihe forwardly extending iingers 256, 260serve to mount respectively depending elements 264, 266 which taperinward at their lower end to support the lowermost cover 68 beneath itsedges. When no can 62 is present, the cover feeding device 38 assumesthe can absent position shown in FIGS. 1() and 11 and the cam follower234 enters the groove 236, thus preventing the slide 240 from rising.Accordingly, the pin 242 does not rise and the scissor jaws are notforced further open and therefore thedepending elements 264, 266 stay inthe position illustrated in FIG. 11 and no end 68 is released. If,however, a can 62 is present, the device assumes the can presentposition of FIG. 9 with the cam follower 236 riding upon the cammed railportion 238. At the high spot of the cammed rail portion, the slide 240and the attached pin 242 are raised upward and the beveled pin portion243 causes the rearwardly extending iiingers 254 and 258 to open orspread further apart. This Opening of the scissor jaws causes thedepending elements 264, 266 to move out from beneath the edges of theend 68 to thus allow the end to drop onto the guide rails 70 to be fedinto the machine. The outward position of the depending elements 264,266 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. ll.

It should be understood that the double seamer of the present inventionis adaptable for use with Icans of varying diameters and heights. Aspreviously described, the seaming rollers 116 can be selectively changedto compensate for cans of various diameters. Also, the seaming rail 88can be replaced to allow it to accommodate cans of varying diameter, oralternatively, the seaming rail 88 can be adjustably mounted to theupper assembly skirt 188 to allow it to be moved inward or outward inaccordance with the can diameter. To allow the apparatus to accept cansof varying height, the entire upper assembly 34 is mounted on threespaced posts 270 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. These posts arescrewfadjustable to enable the entire upper assembly to be raised and/orlowered to a height which will accommodate the height of the can beingseamed.

The thickness or tightness of the double seam being produced may also-be adjusted. The spring '190 which biases the cam rail 90 is interposedbetween the cam rail and a screw adjustment means 272, as shown in FIGS.3 and 4. Since the spring 190 acts against the rail 90 to urge the-seaming roller 116 into engagement with the 'end seam, the harder thespring pushes, the tighter the end seam will be folded, and by varyingthe posit-ion of the screw A272, the push of the spring can accordinglybe selectively varied. Additionally, it is within the scope of thepresent invention to form the lower step 104 of the seaming roller bodyportion as an articulated, rather than integral, piece. If the step 104is articulated, that end which pivotally mounts the lower roller 114 canbe moved relatively to that end which pivotally mounts the seamingroller 116 to thus vary the distance .between the lower roller 114 andthe seaming roller 116. This variation in distance is another way inwhich the seam thickness in the second operation can be adjusted. Thefirst operation seam thickness is controlled by adjusting the Vscrewswhich mount the seaming rail 88.

The terms end, cover, and closure are used interchangeably herein todescribe the element 68 which is to lbe doubleseamed to a can 62.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant features will`be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparentthat various changes may be made in the form, .construction andarrangement of parts and that changes may be made in the steps of themethod described and in their order of accomplishment v10 withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing allof its material advantages, the form `hereinbefore described beingmerely a preferred embodiment thereof.

' We claim:

1. In the manufacture of containers wherein a flanged closure and aflanged container are clamped together in partial assembly between acontainer support and a chuck in said closure so that their flanges arein close contact, and the thus partially assembled closure and.container are rotated on their comm-on axis while being moved in apredetermined path along which said closure is doubleseamed to saidcontainer, the process comprising the steps of:

pressing a seaming rail into engagement with said lflanges of thecontainer and its closure, to produce a partial double seamtherebetween, during slightly more than one rotation of the partiallyassembled container and closure about their common axis therebypreventing folding of the cold worked material; and

pressing a seaming roller into engagement with said partial double seamto produce a completed double seam between said rotating container andclosure during the remainder of their progress along said predeterminedpath.

2. A method of double seaming a closure to a container, comprisingfeeding a flanged closure into partial assembly with the open end of aanged container on a support pad; pressing and retaining said closureand containerinto close partial assembly between said support pad and achuck applied to said can end to hold the outwardly extending iianges ofthe container and closure in close contact;

rotating said partially assembled container and closure about theircommon axis while thus held between said pad and chuck;

revolving said rotating container around a fixed center through lessthan 360 degrees;

pressing a seaming rail into engagement with said anges of the containerand closure to produce a partial double seam therebetween dur-ing lessthan 90 degrees of the initial portion of said circular path;

rolling said partial double seam into a completed double seam during theremainder of the movement of said rotating container and closure alongsaid circular path; and

removing said container wit-h its closure completely double-seamedthereto, from said circular path.

3. A method of double searning a `closure to a container comprising thesteps of:

feeding a anged closure into partial assembly with theV open end of aiianged container; clamping said closure and container into closepartial assembly to hold the outwardly extending anges of the containerand closure in close contact; rotating said partially assembledcontainer and closure about their axis while thus clamped together;revolving said rotating container and closure in `a cir- -cular patharound a fixed .center through less than 360; pressing a seaming railinto engagement with said i flanges of the container and closure toproduce a partial double seam therebetween Vduring less than degrees ofthe initial portion of said circular path; rolling said partial doubleseam into a completed double seam during theremainder of the movement ofsaid rota-ting container and `closure along said circular path; andremoving said container with its closure completely double-seamedthereto, from said circular path. 4. In an apparatus for sealing a coverto a container along .la sealing area adjacent the juncture between saidcontainer and cover, the combination comprising:

means for temporarily clamping a cover onto a container; Y

means for rotating the clamped container and cover around their commonaxis;

means for revolving said rotating container and cover in a circular paththrough less than 360;

stationary sealing means adjacent about one quadrant of said circularpath of said sealing area between said rotating container and cover forpartially sealing said area;

movable sealing means revolvable with said rotating container and coveralong a circular path adjacent said revolving and rotating sealing areaof the coutainer and cover, and movable into engagement with thepartially sealed sealing area to complete the sealing of said areaduring the remainder of -the progress of said container and body alongtheir circular path.

5. The apparatus for sealing a cover to a container as set forth inclaim 4, wherein said stationary seaming means intercepts the normalcircular path of said movable seaming means, and said movable seamingmeans is ver- ;tically reciprocable from said normal path; and means areprovided for vertically reciprocating said movable seaming means out ofits normal path to avoid interference with said stationary seaming meansand back to its -normal path to complete said sealing operation.

6. Apparatus for double seaming a cover to a container body comprising:

a rotatable turret member having at least one peripheral pocket therein;

means for introducing a flanged container body into said peripheralpocket;

means for feeding a flanged cover into superposed alignment `with saidcontainer body;

means rotatable with said turret and disposed adjacent said pocket forclamping said container body and said cover together into partialassembly within said pocket, with the opposing surfaces of said iiangesin close contact:

means rotatable with said turret and disposed adjacent axis and thuscausing said clamped body and cover to revolve in a circular path aboutthe turret axis;

means associated with said turret rotating means for rotating saidclamped body and cover about their common axis within said pocket whilethey simultaneously revolve about the turret axis;

stationary seaming means for engaging the flanges of said rotating andrevolving clamped body and cover Vfor forming a partial double seamtherebetween;

pivotable seaming means for engaging said partial double seam to form acompleted double seam;

actuating means for selectively oscillating said pivotal seaming meansinto and out of seaming engagement with said tianges; and

ejection means for discharging the double seamed container and cover outor" said turret pocket.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for clamping saidcontainer body and cover together comprises a rotatable spring-biasedsupport pad beneath said pocket for supporting said container body and arotatable reciprocable driving chuck above said pocket for holding saidcover in contact with said container body.

S. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said stationary seaming meansis an arcuate seaming rail disposed alongside a portion of said circularpath of the container body and cover at a height corresponding to thatof the flanges of the clamped container body and cover.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim S wherein the portion of said circularpath along which said rail extends is no greater than one quadrant.

means for selectively oscillating the pivotable seaming means includesat least one cam rail upon which said cam follower rides.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said seaming railintercepts the normal path of said seaming roller assembly, and saidassembly is also mounted for vertical reciprocation; and wherein meansare provided for vertically reciprocating said assembly out of itsnormal path to avoid interception by said arcuate seaming rail, and backto its normal path after it has passed said rail.

12. In an apparatus for double seaming a can end to a can body, thecombination comprising:

clamping means for temporarily holding a lianged can end and flanged canbody together in partial assembly;

means for rotating said assembly about its axis and simultaneouslymoving said rotating assembly in a circular path;

a stationary arcuate seaming rail extending alongside said circular pathfor about one-quarter of its length, said rail having a groove thereinadapted to engage and interfold the outwardly extending flanges of saidcan end and can body to form a partial double seam;

a pivotal seaming roller movable in a circular path adjacent to andtogether with said clamping means, said roller having a seaming groovetherein adapted to engage the partial double seam and form it into acompleted double seam;

means for moving said seaming roller along its circular path; and

actuating means for selectively pivoting said seaming roller into andout of its seaming engagement with said can end and body.

13. In a double seamer having a stationary seaming device for performinga first seaming operation and a movable seaming device for performing asecond seaming operation, wherein the stationary seaming deviceintercepts the normal path of said movable seaming device, thecombination comprising:

a body portion of said movable seaming device movable normally along anarcuate path, and around its vertical axis, and also vertically alongits axis;

a seaming roll mounted on said body portion;

means for moving said body portion along said arcuate path;

means for moving said body portion around its vertical axis to move saidseaming roll into its seccond seaming operation; and

means for moving said body portion vertically from its normal arcuatepath before reaching said intercepting stationary seaming device toclear said del vice, and for returning said body portion to its normalpath after it has passed said device.

14. A movable seaming device as defined in claim 13 but furthercharacterized by said body portion being comprised of threeinterconnected stepped portions deiining a lower, an intermediate, andan upper step, with a cam roller being mounted on each of the lower andupper steps, and by the provision of cam means for engaging said rollersto move said body portion around its vertical axis.

15. A movable seaming device as defined in claim 14 wherein a wingportion extends upwardly from said intermediate step and a roller isrotatably mounted on said wing portion; and wherein said means formoving the body portion vertically includes a cam for engaging andeffecting vertical movement of said roller.

16. In a single revolution double seaming machine which assembles a canend to a can body by forming a double seam created by interfolding thecan end periplleral skirt with the can body peripheral flange duringless than a single revolution of the machine, improved double seamforming means comprising:

a stationary arcuate seaming rail occupying less lthan one quarter ofthe distance travelled during a single revolution of the machine;

said seaming rail including a central inner groove adapted to engage andinterfold the can end peripheral skirt and the can body peripheraliiange to form a partial double seam; and

a selectively pivotable seaming roller .adapted to be pivoted into andout of engagement with said partial double seam, said pivoting occurringin less than the remaining three-quarters of a single revolution;

said seaming roller including ai continuous central groove adapted tosurround -said partial double seam and apply pressure to Hatten saidpartial double seam into a finished double seam.

17. Apparatus for securing ia can cover to 'a can body comprising:

body feeding means for introducing Ia can body linearly into saidapparatus;

said body `feeding means including a chain drive with extending fingerportions projecting outward between alternate can bodies to move saidbodies along -a linear track;

a central shaft extending through said apparatus substantially normallyto said linear track and dening the central axis of said apparatus;

=a main apparatus frame;

an upper assembly extending iabove said main apparatus frame;

said central shaft extending through said main apparatus frame and intosaid upper assembly;

a central sleeve surrounding said central shaft for a portion of itslength;

a central turret aixed to said central sleeve and having a plurality of-spaced peripheral pockets;

fa support pad adjustably mounted within the base of each central turretpocket;

driving means atiixed to said central shaft and rotatable therewith forrotating said support pads;

said body feeding means being operable to feed :a can body into eachcentral turret pocket fand onto the support pad beneath that pocket;

cover feeding means for selectively feeding a can cover from a sourcethereof to a position above each can body when said can body becomesdeposited upon a support pad;

said -cover feeding means including a cover feeding turret which moves`a cover between guide rails and a transfer turret which removes thecover from the cover feeding turret and continues moving said coverlbetween the guide rails until it reaches a point of alignedsuperposition overa can body supported in a central turret pocket;

can body sensing means for sensing whether Va can body is being fed intoa particular central turret.

pocket;

said can body sensing means being interconnected with said cover feedingmeans to assure that a cover will only be fed to a container pocket if acan body is being fed to that pocket;

a plurality of driving chucks rotatably and reciprocably mounted withinsaid central turret, one of said chucks being located yabove eachperipheral pocket;

cam mean attached to said upper assembly `and co-active with saiddriving chucks for selectively reciprocating them between a lower and anupper position;

each of said driving chucks forcing a can cover into engagement with thecan body beneath it when said chuck moves to its lower position;

said driving chuck and said support pad acting 'as clamping means forclamping together a can body and cover;

additional driving means affixed to said central shaft and rotatabletherewith for rotating said driving chucks;

shaft gearing means for rotating said central shaft;

sleeve gearing means for rotating said central sleeve;

said central shaft rotation causing said driving means and saidadditional driving means to rotate and to thus rotate the support padsand the driving chucks thereby causing each clamped can body and coverto rotate about its own axis within each turret pocket;

said central sleeve rotation causing said central turret to rotate aboutthe central yaxis of the apparatus and thus causing each rotatingclamped can body and cover to synchronously revolve about said centralaxis;

an arcuate stationary seaming rail aixed to said upper assembly andpartially surrounding said central turret and extending into theperipheral pockets thereof at Ia height corresponding to the interfaceof the can bodies and can covers clamped within said pockets;

said seaming rail having a central groove therein which interfolds saidcan bodies and said can covers t0 form -a partial double seam;

a plurality of elevatable and pivotable seaming roller assembliesatlixed to said central turret with one of said assemblies bein-gadjacent each peripheral pocket;

each of said seaming roller assemblies having a rotatable seaming rollermounted thereon and adapted to engage a previously formed partial seamto convert it into 'a finished flattened end seam;

each of said seaming roller assemblies also including a lower, anintermedite, and van upper cam follower roller;

a lower cam rail aiiixed to said upper assembly and engageable with saidlowercam 'follower rollers to selectively pivot each seaming rollerassembly into a seam engaging position;

an upper cam rail affixed to said upper assembly and engageable withs-aid upper cam follower rollers to selectively elevate said seamingroller assemblies to lift them over said stationary seamin-g rail;

an intermediate cam rail afiixed to said upper cam rail and engageablewith said .intermediate cam follower rollers to selectively pivot eachseaming roller assembly out of said engaging position; and

ejecting means for removing a can body and its attached cover from itscentral turret pocket once ya finished double seam has been formed;

said ejecting means including a rotatable ejection turret havingperipheral pockets therein and an arcuate rail member for transferring aseamed can and cover from a central turret pocket into an ejectionturret pocket and subsequently out of said apparatus.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said shaft gearing meansoperates at ya greater speed than said sleeve gearing means thus causingsaid central shaft and its attachments to rotate faster than saidcentral sleeve `and its attachments.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 858,785 7/ 1907Black l 113-1 1,929,339 10/1933 Troyer et al 113-1 RICHARD I. HERBST,Primary Examiner. CHARLES w. LANHAM, Examiner.

R. D. GREFE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CONTAINERS WHEREIN A FLANGED CLOSURE AND AFLANGED CONTAINER ARE CLAMPED TOGETHER IN PARTIAL ASSEMBLY BETWEEN ACONTAINER SUPPORT AND A CHUCK IN SAID CLOSURE SO THAT THEIR FLANGES AREIN CLOSE CONTACT, AND THE THUS PARTIALLY ASSEMBLED CLOSURE AND CONTAINERARE ROTATED ON THEIR COMMON AXIS WHILE BEING MOVED IN A PREDETERMINEDPATH ALONG WHICH SAID CLOSURE IS DOUBLESEAMED TO SAID CONTAINER, THEPROCESS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: PRESSING A SEAMING RAIL INTO ENGAGEMENTWITH SAID FLANGES OF THE CONTAINER AND ITS CLOSURE, TO PRODUCE A PARTIALDOUBLE SEAM THEREBETWEEN, DURING SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ONE ROTATION OF THEPARTIALLY ASSEMBLED CONTAINER AND CLOSURE ABOUT THEIR COMMON AXISTHEREBY PRVENTING FOLDING OF THE COLD WORKED MATERIAL; AND PRESSING ASEAMING ROLLER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PARTIAL DOUBLE SEAM TO PRODUCEA COMPLETED DOUBLE SEAM BETWEEN SAID ROTATING CONTAINER AND CLOSUREDURING THE REMAINDER OF THEIR PROGRESS ALONG SAID PREDETERMINED PATH. 4.IN AN APPARATUS FOR SEALING A COVER TO A CONTAINER ALONG A SEALING AREAADJACENT THE JUNCTURE BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND COVER, THE COMBINATIONCOMPRISING: MEANS FOR TEMPORARILY CLAMPING A COVER ONTO A CONTAINER;MEANS FOR ROTATING THE CLAMPED CONTAINER AND COVER AROUND THEIR COMMONAXIS; MEANS FOR REVOLVING SAID ROTATING CONTAINER AND COVER IN ACIRCULAR PATH THROUGH LESS THAN 360*; STATIONARY SEALING MEANS ADJACENTABOUT ONE QUADRANT OF SAID CIRCULAR PATH OF SAID SEALING AREA BETWEENSAID ROTATING CONTAINER AND COVER FOR PARTIALLY SEALING SAID AREA;MOVABLE SEALING MEANS REVOLVABLE WITH SAID ROTATING CONTAINER AND COVERALONG A CIRCULAR PATH ADJACENT SAID REVOLVING AND ROTATING SEALING AREAOF THE CONTAINER AND COVER, AND MOVABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THEPARTIALLY SEALED SEALING AREA TO COMPLETE THE SEALING OF SAID AREADURING THE REMAINDER OF THE PROGRESS OF SAID CONTAINER AND BODY ALONGTHEIR CIRCULAR PATH.